Rated X: Special Edition

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Could the Xbox be releasing early? Want to know the new release date? Click here!

By The Xbox Monkey

Note:What you are about to read is a special edition of IGN Xbox's rumor column, Rated X. This is the place where our Xbox helper monkey prints all of the little details that we get "under the radar" and off the record. Nothing here should be taken as official confirmation from any of the companies mentioned.

Back when Microsoft revealed that the Xbox would be released on November 8, 2001 (just a couple days after Nintendo's GameCube), nearly everyone in the industry said that Microsoft needed to change the date to get out from under the GameCube's launch shadow. Well, although MS isn't moving the date too far away from the GCN, it looks as if November 8, 2001 will not be the final date for the system on Microsoft's calendar.

We've actually been sitting on this information for a while now, and it's about time that we let it out. We first started to hear rumors of Microsoft changing the Xbox date as far back as May -- right after E3. Back then, the big rumor was that MS would push the system up to a September 14th release date in the US (which is the same day that the GCN would release in Japan).

As things worked out, that simply would not be possible. Most of the launch titles would not be ready until mid-October and they wouldn't be able to produce enough hardware to meet commitments if the platform launched in September. Either way, the ball was set in motion for a release date change.

Shortly after that rumor floated our way, Microsoft updated Xbox.com and changed the release dates for every one of the first-party titles from "November 8, 2001" to "Fall 2001". When that happened, we were sure that Microsoft was at least preparing to change the release date.

Recently we received solid confirmation from a source that stated, yes, the Xbox would release early in North America if certain conditions were met. Here are the details:

If Microsoft produces all 800,000 systems that it needs to meet retail commitments in North America (which is 500,000 for the US and 300,000 for Canada), the Xbox will release on Thursday, November 1st, 2001. Exactly one week earlier than previously announced. This will only happen if MS gets the right number produced in advance. If not, the official date will remain November 8.

What games will you be able to buy with the system on that day? Well, we do not have details on third party titles, but the first-party games to launch with the system will apparently be:

Remember that these are only the first-party titles that will launch with the system on day one. Third party titles usually hit stores a few days before and there are also some first-party games (such as Dead or Alive 3) which are still scheduled to be out around launch. Also, that list is subject to change. Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding was originally on the list, but has since been pushed back until Thanksgiving only to be replaced with Azurik.

If the system does launch on the first of November, you can expect stores to stay open late on Halloween night in order to sell the system at 12:01am as they did with previous system launches. We'll have more on the Xbox's US launch for you very shortly, so stay tuned. But for now, here is one more "rumor" for you to chomp on:

Xbox Games: $34.99?

Recently an UK website ran a story that listed Microsoft's launch details that were announced at E3 ($299 price, November 8, etc). The strange thing was the price for the games: $34.99 US. Every other price for the system and accessories was correct from what we have determined, but the game prices seemed a little strange.

We contacted Microsoft and got the standard response that could neither confirm nor deny the $34.99 price. The last time we got that type of response from Redmond was when we asked them about a release date change...